Dial mechanism for combination locks



Dec. 27, 1955 F. J. BREMER I 2,728,215

DIAL MECHANISM FOR COMBINATION LOCKS Filed Feb. 25, 1952 y 7 24 E; llll HI IHI ||1| 1| /7 d 9O I O l I///////// m Hr IN V EN TOR. FREDERICK. J BRIE-MEI? United States Patent Frederick J. Bremer, Hamilton,

Mosler Safe Company, of New York Application February 25, 1952, Serial No. 273,327 1 Claim. (Cl. 70332) Ohio, assiguor to The Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation This invention relates to combination locks and more particularly to an improved dial mechanism for such locks.

An object of this invention is to provide a dial mechanism for combination locks which is so designed that when mounted on a vertical safe door or the like, the dial markings or graduations and the reference or zero mark are visible from the top, but not the front of the lock.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism as set forth above in which the lock combination may be more easily executed than in the case of prior art combination locks.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a dial mechanism for a combination lock showing a form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the dial mechanism as mounted on a door, illustrating that the dial graduations are visible when looking down on the lock.

In the drawings, a dial mechanism 1 is shown that comprises a base plate 2 and an indexing knob 3 having thereon a dial 4 that is rotatable with knob 3. The knob 3 as shown, is secured to a spindle 5 by which a lock mechanism 6 is operated. Plate 2 may be secured to the door with screws 2'.

In Figs. 2 and 3, mechanism 1 is shown mounted on the front face of a vertical safe door 7.

Base plate 2 may, if desired, be provided with an out wardly projecting flange 8. Flange 8 when employed, is preferably circular in form but discontinuous so as to provide a gap 10 at the top thereof. The top of the base plate is provided with a mark 11 that may be called the zero or origin mark and which is located preferably at the center of gap 10.

Spindle 5 is turned by knob 3. As shown, knob 3 has a hollow head 12 from which an annular shoulder 13 projects, and a shank 14 that is threaded on the outer end of the spindle 5 and secured thereto by a pin 15. The inner end of shank 14 is received in an opening 16 in the base plate. Dial 4 is secured to shoulder 13. The dial, as shown, is of cup-shape having an opening 18 in the center of its bottom 19 to receive the head 12 and an inwardly extending portion, or flange 20, having a cylindrical surface on which the dial graduations are marked or formed. The flange 20 is nested within base flange 8, flanges 8 and 20 being concentric with the axis of the line IIII of Fig. 1;

rotation of spindle 5. The depth of flange 8 is such that the scale markings on flange 20 are concealed except at the top where they are exposed to view through gap 10.

The portion of the bottom 19 lying on and covering the shoulder 13 may be clamped to the shoulder by a ferrule 21 and screws 22. Screws 22 are inserted from the inside face of shoulder 13, the screws extending through the shoulder, bottom 19 and into the ferrule 21. Screws 22, as can be seen in Fig. 2, are concealed in the assembled device. Ferrule 21 may be provided with an annular flange 26 for holding a closure disk 27. Cup shaped member 19, ferrule 21' and disc 27 constitute the front face of the dial which together with flange 20 substantially encloses the central opening in flange 8. Disk 27 may be for decorative purposes also. I When the dial mechanism is secured to a door, an annular border or trim member 24 may be placed between the face of the door and the base 2 to enhance the appearance of the mechanism. The trim member 24 is optional and may be used or not.

A dial mechanism such as illustrated, conceals the dial graduations or scale from frontal view. However, as the dial graduations are visible when looking down on the lock mechanism, the graduations and the origin or zero mark are in a position where they may be easily and accurately viewed while executing the combination of the lock.

Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art, that changes may be made in the illustrated embodiment of the invention without departing from either the spirit or the scope thereof.

Therefore, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A combination lock dial mechanism comprising a base plate adapted for mounting on the outer surface of a safe door, said base plate having a zero mark formed thereon and being configurated to form an outwardly projecting circular flange, an elongated portion of said flange being removed to define a gap extending an appreciable distance on each side of the zero mark on the base plate, a rotatable dial spindle extending through said base plate and being disposed for rotation within said circular flange, a dial mounted upon said spindle and comprising a front face of a diameter substantially as large as the internal diameter of the circular flange, and a portion having a cylindrical surface nested snugly within said circular flange, said cylindrical surface extending perpendicular to said base plate, and being disposed in concentric relationship to the rotational axis of said spindle, said cylindrical surface being provided with degree markings which with the zero mark on said base plate indicate the rotational posi tion of said spindle with respect to said zero mark, the degree markings on said portion being concealed by said flange except for those markings in registry with said gap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

